NOAA's National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) initiated a satellite Climate Data Record (CDR) program to continuously provide objective climate information derived from weather satellite data that NOAA has collected for more than 30 years. These data comprise the longest record of global satellite mapping measurements in the world, and are complemented by data from other sources including NASA and Department of Defense satellites as well as foreign satellites.

The mission of NOAA's Climate Data Record Program is to develop and implement a robust, sustainable, and scientifically defensible approach to producing and preserving climate records from satellite data.

WHAT ARE CDRs?
The National Research Council (NRC) defines a CDR as a time series of measurements of sufficient length, consistency, and continuity to determine climate variability and change. (National Research Council, 2004).

For the first time, NOAA is applying modern data analysis methods, which have advanced significantly in the last decade, to these historical global satellite data. This process will unravel the underlying climate trend and variability information and return new economic and scientific value from the records. In parallel, NCDC will maintain and extend these Climate Data Records by applying the same methods to present-day and future satellite measurements.

WHY ARE CDRs IMPORTANT?
The results will provide trustworthy information on how, where and to what extent the land, oceans, atmosphere and ice sheets are changing. In turn, this information will be used by energy, water resources, agriculture, human health, national security, coastal community and other interest groups. Our CDR data will improve the Nation's resilience to climate change and variability, maintain our economic vitality and improve the security and well-being of the public.